Songhai Empire

The Songhai Empire lasted from 1464 to 1591. Prior to the 1400s, the Songhai were under the rule of the Mali Empire.

The Songhai Empire first came into power under the leadership of Sunni Ali. Sunni Ali was a prince of the Songhai. He was being held as a prisoner by the leader of the Mali Empire who ruled over the Songhai.

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Princes escape

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In 1464, Sunni Ali escaped to the city of Gao and took control of the city. From the city of Gao, he established the Songhai Empire and began to conquer nearby regions including the important trading cities of Timbuktu and Djenne.

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​Takes control

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In 1493, Askia Muhammad became the leader of the Songhai. He brought the Songhai Empire to its height of power

​Askia Muhammad

​Askia Muhammad

Under his rule

• Religion of Islam became an important part of the empire.

• He conquered much of the surrounding lands and took control of the gold and salt trade from the Mali Empire.

​Religion of Islam

• He made the legal system based on Islamic laws

• He appointed Islamic judges to administer the laws.

• He set out to convert his subjects to Islam

• He encouraged the building of mosques and the teaching of the Qur’an.

The fall of the Songhai Empire

The Songhai Empire continued to thrive until the late 1500s.

In that time North Africans began to invade the empire. The empire was also under attack from the south, as slave traders raided villages. Captured people were traded to Europeans and sent to the Americas.

By the 1700s, the Songhai Empire had shrunk to the area around Gao.